Foyle Cup squads tackle pitch plastic

Foyle Cup squads did their bit for the environment during this summer’s tournament by joining NI Water’s “Refillution” campaign, aimed at reducing reliance on single-use plastic bottles.

Limavady Youths FC with their new reusable water bottles as part of NI Water’s Refillution campaign | NI Water

placeholder image — Limavady Youths FC with their new reusable water bottles as part of NI Water’s Refillution campaign | NI Water

As part of the initiative, NI Water donate reusable water bottles and encourage the public to make the switch from disposable plastic bottles to refilling with fresh tap water.

Launched in 2019, the campaign aims to tackle plastic pollution and help protect rivers and seas. More than 250 million plastic bottles are thrown away each year in Northern Ireland, which equates to about 95 bottles per person annually.

Derry’s Top of the Hill Celtic boys U-10 team join NI Water’s Refillution campaign | NI Water

To date, more than 230,000 reusable bottles have been distributed to schools, community groups and public events by NI Water.

The young footballers were competing at Lisnagelvin Playing Fields beside Derry/Londonderry’s Gelvin Grange depot. The site houses NI Water's laboratories, which carry out drinking water and wastewater testing.

Anna Killen, Education Officer with NI Water said: “We’re delighted to see our Foyle Cup teams getting involved in our Refillution campaign. Bottled water is estimated to be around 900 times more carbon intensive than tap water, meaning that choosing refillable bottles can have a substantial impact on reducing emissions and plastic waste. Every refill helps cut down on single-use plastic and supports our efforts to protect the environment for future generations. It's fantastic to see so many young people leading by example both on and off the pitch."

Take part in the initiative and receive free reusable bottles by emailing [email protected]. Sports clubs can find out more at www.niwater.com/refillution-join/.